Viator Travel Blog

It’s an overcast day. The boats on the lake, covered in their cutely uniform little blue tarpaulins, bob almost imperceptibly as swans glide between them. A gull sits on one of the boats, cleaning itself. The top of Uetliberg, Zurich’s cherished mountain (although it’s really just a large hill) is obscured. The cloud seems to be suffocating the ridge and seeping down the cracks in the rock.

By the lakefront, the wooden chairs of the beachside bars are all folded up and strapped to the tables with a cable. The swimming baths that essentially just cordon off part of the lake are left with an open door and a bored receptionist. A sign says that the water temperature is 21 degrees Celsius and the air temperature is 17. Not tempting enough for the Zurchers, it seems.

Cruise travelers know that if you want to see multiple destinations in a short amount of time – without the stress – cruises can be a great option. You simply unpack once and each day wake up in an exciting new port, without having to navigate foreign trains and airports, carry heavy luggage, or sacrifice any of your precious vacation time waiting to arrive at your next destination.

Once you arrive, you have several options as to how you can experience the exotic sights, sounds and smells of your destination. You can set off on your own without a plan, or you can follow the crowds of passengers who booked shore excursions with the cruise line. But what many people don’t realize – and what the cruise ships don’t want you to know – is that there is a third option, and it’s one that can help you save both time and money on your trip.

We at Viator take pride in being a leader in the tourism industry. We work hard staying on top of the latest travel trends, keeping ourselves informed of up-and-coming travel destinations, and constantly looking for new and exciting experiences for our customers.

Currently on Viator.com you can find thousands of land, water, and air activities in over 400 destinations worldwide (with more being added all the time!), but we realized that’s not enough. It’s time to move on to uncharted territory– to the ultimate destination–space.

April 15, 1912. A day that will forever be remembered as a tragic date (and one that, 90 years later, would make James Cameron piles of cash). On this date, the Titanic, which was supposed to be an unsinkable ocean liner, sank in the North Atlantic Ocean off of the coast of Newfoundland. Only five days into its trans-Atlantic voyage, the inaugural crossing would be its only voyage. In the end, 1,517 of the 2,228 passengers on board lost their lives in the frigid waters.

A century later, people are paying tribute to the heart-breaking event. From memorial cruises to services and concerts, those wishing to honor the lives lost and this sad day in history have a chance to do so.

My husband did ask the obvious question, “Why?” Yes, why would you suspend the biggest chandelier you have ever seen over a stage floating in the air, over the Sydney Harbour, in front of the Harbour Bridge? And then perform “La Traviata”? And even more so, how? I can imagine the original meeting with the engineers “You want us to do what? How? Are you crazy?” After a truly unforgettable evening, I am still not sure how on earth they managed. I do know what the end result is. It’s an experience that is as much a delight for your eyes as it is for your ears.

Sometimes part of what prevents me from being touristic is the very idea of being a tourist. You know the sort; that classic straitjacket-backpacked/waterbottle-holstered/zip-off-lightweight-rainproofed-pant-clad/happy-camper image? It’s not so much the look that concerns me as the association that goes with it. Walking. And by God have I done my far share of touristic walking. That wandering-aimlessly-stunned-bunny, gawking at buildings and confusing the few foreign words I know is generally me. So sometimes upon waking, I look up at my hotel room’s white ceiling fan swimming in slow motion and I just don’t want to be that guy.

Sure, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) are spectacular, but there’s much more to Vietnam than just those two destinations. Vietnam is filled to the brim with exotic sandy beaches, untapped cultural landmarks and all the rural culture you can handle, from the absolutely stunning beaches and growing nightlife of Nha Trang, to the historical old town of beautiful Hoi An. For those with the adventurer’s sense of traveling, there are more than enough reasons to extend your stay in Vietnam. Here are our top 5 places to go in Vietnam that are not in Hanoi or Saigon.

Paris has been the world’s most popular vacation destination for years. This means that if you want to see the City of Light’s most famous sites, you’re going to have to plan ahead – and even then, you’re going to encounter lines, crowds and, honestly, a bit of dissatisfaction. But there is a way to avoid the hassle, even at the height of the tourist season. For the less-stressful, low-crowd version of touring Paris, you just have to look to the locals.

HURRY! Book by March 29, 2012 to save 50% on the recommended retail prices for Paris City Segway Tour, Pompidou Center Private Viewing & Walking Tour, and Versailles Day Trip from Paris. This exclusive offer applies to all scheduled departure times and dates through end of 2012. This offer is available for new transactions only and cannot be applied to any existing booking.

Mention South Devon, England to a British adult, and there’s a good chance that you’ll see a nostalgic look appear in their eyes. They’re casting themselves back to childhood summers: fishing in rockpools, cricket on the beach and arguments over ice cream. Even for adults, Devon is “getting away from it all”. So why don’t you head to the southwest and see what all the fuss is about?